Why the St. Louis Rams Should Sign Jimmy Graham
By Michael Schneid
The New Orleans Saints used their franchise tag on free agent tight end Jimmy Graham, meaning he is no longer an unrestricted free agent. Any team that wants to sign Graham outright, would have to surrender two first round picks to the Saints, and the Saints also have the right to match any offer.
There aren't many teams that would surrender two first round picks nor would it be wise for most teams to. But for one team, it might be worth the gamble - the St. Louis Rams.
Some people have floated the Seahawks and the Patriots as options. Both make a lot of sense. Patriots like running a two-TE system and can pair the league's two best tight ends (with Rob Gronkowski). The Seahawks add a huge receiving threat, adding a whole new dimension to the offense. Plus, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl without a first round pick in 2013 (traded for Percy Harvin).
So why do the Rams make sense? Well for one, they play in the same division as the two NFC finalists - Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. The Rams finished 4th in the division as the Arizona Cardinals finished 10-6. The NFC West might be the best division in the NFL.
Jimmy Graham is the best tight end in the NFL. He has 85+ receptions each of the last three seasons and despite playing the latter half of the 2013 season with a foot injury, still had 16 touchdowns. The Rams as a team combined for 22 touchdowns in 2013. Graham had 1,215 yards in 2013, almost double Rams TE Jared Cook (671 yards). Cook also led the Rams in receiving yards and led the team with 5 touchdowns.
People have been criticizing the Rams for years for not surrounding former #1 overall pick, QB Sam Bradford with viable weapons. They did sign TE Jared Cook last off-season and draft WR Tavon Austin in the first round. They have two first round picks in 2014 and a ton of young talent. They can keep the #2 pick and trade the #13 pick and next year's first round pick for Graham and get the best TE in the game for Bradford.
This would also lead to an immediate improvement of the younger WRs, like Tavon Austin, Austin Pettis, Chris Givens, Brian Quick. With so many recent draft picks contributing, the Rams are in need of a legit veteran player, like Graham, to put them over the top into playoff contention and beyond.
It seems like the Rams have been stuck in neutral for years. They're not trending up or down. The defense is good and have some Pro Bowl-caliber players. But they need a game-changing player on the offensive side of the ball. Jimmy Graham is without a doubt a game-changer and can push the Rams towards the top of the division, while also eliminating the Saints as an NFC contender.
Yes, two first round picks is a BIG deal and a lot to give away, but if any team was to ever take this kind of risk, the Rams would be wise to.
The New Orleans Saints used their franchise tag on free agent tight end Jimmy Graham, meaning he is no longer an unrestricted free agent. Any team that wants to sign Graham outright, would have to surrender two first round picks to the Saints, and the Saints also have the right to match any offer.
There aren't many teams that would surrender two first round picks nor would it be wise for most teams to. But for one team, it might be worth the gamble - the St. Louis Rams.
Some people have floated the Seahawks and the Patriots as options. Both make a lot of sense. Patriots like running a two-TE system and can pair the league's two best tight ends (with Rob Gronkowski). The Seahawks add a huge receiving threat, adding a whole new dimension to the offense. Plus, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl without a first round pick in 2013 (traded for Percy Harvin).
So why do the Rams make sense? Well for one, they play in the same division as the two NFC finalists - Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. The Rams finished 4th in the division as the Arizona Cardinals finished 10-6. The NFC West might be the best division in the NFL.
Jimmy Graham is the best tight end in the NFL. He has 85+ receptions each of the last three seasons and despite playing the latter half of the 2013 season with a foot injury, still had 16 touchdowns. The Rams as a team combined for 22 touchdowns in 2013. Graham had 1,215 yards in 2013, almost double Rams TE Jared Cook (671 yards). Cook also led the Rams in receiving yards and led the team with 5 touchdowns.
People have been criticizing the Rams for years for not surrounding former #1 overall pick, QB Sam Bradford with viable weapons. They did sign TE Jared Cook last off-season and draft WR Tavon Austin in the first round. They have two first round picks in 2014 and a ton of young talent. They can keep the #2 pick and trade the #13 pick and next year's first round pick for Graham and get the best TE in the game for Bradford.
This would also lead to an immediate improvement of the younger WRs, like Tavon Austin, Austin Pettis, Chris Givens, Brian Quick. With so many recent draft picks contributing, the Rams are in need of a legit veteran player, like Graham, to put them over the top into playoff contention and beyond.
It seems like the Rams have been stuck in neutral for years. They're not trending up or down. The defense is good and have some Pro Bowl-caliber players. But they need a game-changing player on the offensive side of the ball. Jimmy Graham is without a doubt a game-changer and can push the Rams towards the top of the division, while also eliminating the Saints as an NFC contender.
Yes, two first round picks is a BIG deal and a lot to give away, but if any team was to ever take this kind of risk, the Rams would be wise to.
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